Madonna urges Pope to visit Gaza ‘before it’s too late’

Paul GlynnCulture reporterGetty ImagesMadonna launched her remix album Veronica Electronica final monthMadonna has urged Pope Leo XIV to go to Gaza and convey his “mild to the youngsters earlier than it is too late”.The US queen of pop shared her plea on social media, saying the pontiff was “the one one among us who can’t be denied entry.”Her intervention got here because the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and Japan issued a press release saying “famine is unfolding in entrance of our eyes” and urged motion to “reverse hunger”.”Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and convey your mild to the youngsters earlier than it is too late,” Madonna posted on Instagram. “As a mom, I can’t bear to look at their struggling.”The youngsters of the world belong to everybody.”You’re the solely one among us who can’t be denied entry.”Israel has confronted mounting strain over the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, with UN-backed consultants final month warning “the worst-case situation of famine” was taking part in out within the besieged territory.It has continued to disclaim there’s hunger in Gaza and has accused UN businesses of not selecting up help on the borders and delivering it.Final week the UN’s humanitarian company mentioned the quantity of help coming into Gaza continued to be “far beneath the minimal required”. It mentioned it continued to see impediments and delays because it tries to gather help from Israeli-controlled border zones.The Like a Prayer singer added: “We want the humanitarian gates to be absolutely opened to avoid wasting these harmless kids.”She signed off by saying: “There isn’t any extra time. Please say you’ll go. Love, Madonna.”In July, the brand new Pope renewed his name for a Gaza ceasefire after three individuals sheltering within the Catholic church in Gaza Metropolis had been killed in an Israeli strike.In accordance with PA Information, he mentioned: “I attraction to the worldwide group to watch humanitarian legislation and respect the duty to guard civilians in addition to the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of drive, and the pressured displacement of populations.”ReutersPope Leo XIV grew to become the primary US head of the Catholic Church in MayMadonna – who final month launched her long-rumoured remix album Veronica Electronica – has made impassioned speeches on stage about Gaza for the reason that battle started.This contains whereas acting at London’s O2 in 2023, when she instructed followers: “It breaks my coronary heart to see kids struggling, youngsters struggling, aged individuals struggling – all of it’s heartbreaking, I am certain you agree.”However though our hearts are damaged our spirits can’t be damaged.”She urged followers to deliver “mild and love” into the world – each individually and collectively, through phrases and actions – so as to “deliver peace to the Center East” and past.Within the caption of her newest on-line put up, she famous the way it was her son Rocco’s birthday and “the most effective reward I can provide to him as a mom – is to ask everybody to do what they’ll to assist save the harmless kids caught within the crossfire in Gaza.”The star, who additionally requested for donations to a few completely different organisations, continued: “I’m not pointing fingers, inserting blame or taking sides.”Everyone seems to be struggling. Together with the moms of the hostages. I pray that they’re launched as nicely.”U2’s solidarity statementMadonna’s feedback additionally come as U2 frontman Bono – together with the remainder of his bandmates – additionally launched a press release letting followers know the place they stand on the matter.Whereas condemning the actions of each Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas, the Irish frontman provided: “Our band stands in solidarity with the individuals of Palestine who really search a path to peace and coexistence with Israel and with their rightful and legit demand for statehood.”We stand in solidarity with the remaining hostages and plead that somebody rational negotiate their launch.”Getty ImagesHamas killed greater than 1,200 individuals and took 251 hostage in its assault on Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel’s response in Gaza has killed no less than 61,599 Palestinians, in line with the Hamas-run Gaza well being ministry, whose toll the UN considers dependable.On Tuesday the well being ministry mentioned 5 extra individuals had died from malnutrition, bringing the whole variety of such deaths to 227 together with 103 kids.